But homosexual activists are fighting to have those religious freedom protections stripped.

"We cannot remain silent about the potential harm of the current broad religious exemptions in the bill," Heather Cronk, co-director of the gay activist group GetEQUAL, wrote in an email.

"We must demand what we deserve. This is why GetEQUAL will continue asking for our allies in the Senate to publicly oppose ENDA's broad religious exemption from the Senate floor," she said.

Even with the religious exemptions, Anderson said the bill does not truly protect freedom.

"It is clear that the bill would not exempt those who wish to run their businesses and other organizations in keeping with their moral or religious values," he writes.

"Additionally, ENDA's religious liberty protections extend only to businesses directly run by a church or religious organizations. As a result, other religious business owners would be exposed to significant liabilities."

Benjamin Gill

CBN News Producer

Ben Gill serves as a producer for the news segment of The 700 Club, and assists in the production of other CBN newscasts like CBN News Today and Newswatch, a 30-minute show that airs nationally in multiple markets.